From John Murray 2 January [1867]1

same size as the origin of Species—independant of contents Preface Index & any additl Chapter—3

This is clearly too much for volumes of that size—& I propose therefore—with your consent to substitute the larger (Demy) 8vo size in wch your work wd form 2 Volumes like the last Edn of Lyells Principles4

On hearing from you the Printer will be set to work

I am My Dear Sir | faithfully yours | John Murray

Ch. Darwin Esq

Footnotes

CD sent the manuscript of Variation to John Murray on 22 December 1866 (see Correspondence vol. 14, letter to John Murray, 21 and 22 December [1866], and Appendix II). Murray also refers to William Clowes of the printing firm William Clowes & Sons.

Murray refers to Origin. In his letter to Murray of 21 and 22 December [1866] (Correspondence vol. 14), CD said that he was sending all of the manuscript of Variation apart from the last chapter and a possible chapter on humans (see also ibid., letter to J. D. Hooker, 24 December [1866]). ‘8vo’: octavo.

Summary

William Clowes [printer for J. Murray] estimates that Variation will come to a first volume of 648 pages and a second volume of 624 pages – which is too much for volumes the same size as Origin. Murray proposes a larger size.